How to save energy in the summer months

The summer period is generally more demanding than the winter. The reason for this is mainly the increased operation of air conditioners and refrigerators, as well as the consumption of water during this period. Energy spending in summer months will reduce, for example, the use of water savers, rainbows or the disconnection of as many electrical appliances as possible out of the net before leaving for holiday.

Proper room ventilation

In winter, short, but intense ventilation is recommended. In warmer months we can ventilate more and more. If the summer temperatures are extremely high, it is recommended that you ventilate especially in the morning and in the evening. If this is the case, take advantage of ventilation throughout the night. "In older apartment buildings it will often help to open the windows leading to the courtyard. Gardens are not heated as intensely as streets. It is ideal to open windows or doors at once to create a draft, " adds Michal Doležel from the E.ON Rádce project. For example, if a flat is located under the roof and heat is unbearable in the summer months, it is good to consider buying an active ventilation system or air conditioning.

Ensure proper operation of the air conditioner

Before opening the cooling, close all windows and doors, it is also recommended to shade the windows to prevent access to the sun's rays. Blinds, awnings or special foils can be used to shade windows. The total electricity consumption for cooling the house or apartment then depends on the type of air conditioning and the operating mode used. The setting should always respond to outside temperature, in the air-conditioned room the outdoor temperature should be at most 7 ° C. In our climatic conditions, a suitable summer room temperature of 24 ° C, plus minus 2 ° C, is recommended. "Air conditioning is not the only way to cool an apartment or a house. On clear nights, the outside air temperature drops below 20 ° C. So if we can provide night ventilation, then the house can be quite cool without air conditioning, " says Karel Murtinger (Ekowatt).

Install water savers

We can also save money in the bathroom. During showering, we consume 30 to 60 liters of water. In the summer we usually shower more often. When using a screener, it is possible to take a shower of 10 liters of water, while investing in savers is not essential, and some energy suppliers will help with their purchase. Restrictions on water consumption also apply in the garden. If possible, it is good to use storm water captured from the eaves for the sealant. In selected locations affected by drought, even a subsidy for the acquisition of catchment tanks from the Dešťovka program can be obtained.

Do not cool your fridge

The optimal temperature inside the fridge is + 5 ° C, and at low temperatures the energy consumption is already disproportionately high. In addition to setting the temperature, it is advisable to check or change the seal and not leave the refrigerator open for too long. The biggest energy burden for the household is the older fridge, which has an average energy consumption of 15 to 20% on average than the modern types. To maintain a stable energy consumption, refrigerators must be regularly de-icing. "For most modern refrigerators with a large cooling coil, there is no risk of freezing, but the consumption also increases the humidity condensing on the heat exchanger. If we have a refrigerator in the kitchen then it is advisable to maintain the lowest air humidity. That means switching cookers to lower power in a timely manner and using kitchen tower or outflow, "adds Murtinger. It is also important not to put hot items in the fridge which increase the temperature and consequently also the energy consumption.

Turn off and pull out of the socket

A cost-effective, family-friendly rule throughout the year is to switch off electrical appliances, including disconnecting them from the sockets. Many older electrical devices, such as televisions, video recorders, or hi-fi towers, consume power even if you are not using them. For newer models, consumption in idle mode is generally less than 1 W. For example, the wi-fi router is recommended to turn off even in the morning before going to work and at night. "If we think about energy savings in a comprehensive way, there is no wattmeter available at home. You will find out how much exactly the device consumes energy. Saving time can also be helpful. The timer can turn off the Wi-Fi router for the night. You will save at least 200 crowns a year, and you will reduce the amount of electromagnetic radiation in your apartment for a while, " Michal Doležel says.